The Office Mattress

A blog about NBC's The Office, including reviews & thoughts on each new episode, random Office-related information, and anything else I wish to include. Written by someone actually named Meredith :) Come lay your body down on The Office Mattress (That's what she said!!)

1/18/2009

* While better than Moroccan Christmas, overall this episode was still...meh. Not what I expected for the first episode back after the Christmas hiatus.

* The cold open was hilarious!

* Severe lack of "JAM" in this episode, which I can only assume means many of the episodes coming up will be more JAM-centric. Let's hope so.

* "In charge" Jim was quite the turn on. Hubba hubba. I'd like to see him raise his voice more often. And did anyone else notice that he seemed to really be in work mode in this episode? Not just when he was acting regional manager and trying to get the Dwight/Andy fight stopped, but even in the break room he was working on some kind of paperwork. I've NEVER seen Jim work on anything in the breakroom (other than flirting with Pam).

* I'm torn on the fight scene. It seemed kind of anti-climactic in some way, but at the same time I guess that's classic Office. Dwight is a lot of talk but wouldn't actually hurt Andy, like with weapons. Right? Hmmm...

* Speaking of the fight scene, I LOVED when the camera was close up on Jim's face while Dwight & Andy were fighting. JKras gives the BEST camera faces. Perfection!

* I implore you to watch the deleted scenes, particularly the second one :

This is one of the funniest deleted scenes I have EVER seen. And it solidifies my (admittedly biased) opinion that this show should be an hour long every week. Gems like this are left on the cutting room floor and that's just an absolute shame. "Darwin, baby. Darwin." will most certainly make its way into my daily lexicon.

*The whole thing with Michael and David Wallace was strange, awkward, and felt totally out of place. And not really funny except for Michael's "improversation" line. But as I read some of the synopses for upcoming episodes, I think it was a set up for bigger things down the road.

* When Dwight threw away the bobblehead??!! MY GOD!! I let out a huge gasp. I couldn't believe it. That simple act said soooooo much.

Favorite moments/quotes-Creed's "You are welcome"-Michael asking if Angela is crazy in bed and Dwight saying yes because she's "eager and flexible"-Jim yelling at Dwight {{{body shiver}}}-Oscar's realization of exactly where Dwight & Angela had sex in the office-Meredith: "I call loser"And my favorite...that entire deleted scene, from Phyllis' line, to Stanley's speech, to Kevin's talking head, to Dwight bit at the end about his great aunt. Pure comic gold that absolutely should NOT have been cut.

1/06/2009

Okay, this whole "Christmas break" or whateverthehell is going on needs to stop. Now. Is it possible to have withdrawal symptoms from not watching a television show? Seriously.

Well, the drought will soon be over as new episodes return next week. And I'm very happy to see that the next SIX weeks will bring us all new episodes, including the much-anticipated post Super Bowl episode on February 1st. In the meantime, I've been passing the time with almost daily fan fiction reading. I'm basically immersing myself in these amazing, crazy, unbelievable stories. I like the mix between inner monologues of things we did see, complete fabrications/guesses of things we didn't see, and the "alternative universe" stories about things that absolutely did not/will not happen. There are some incredibly talented writers out there.

And then there's the smut. Um...wow. Just wow. See, here's the thing. If you go to your local Barnes & Noble and pick up a copy of some trashy romance novel, the mental picture in your head of the characters, their demeanor & mannerisms is completely created by your mind. Five people will read the same book and come up with five different versions of what the main characters look like and how they might look...um...engaging in certain activities. But with Office fan fiction, we already know what Jim & Pam look like. How they act. What clothes they wear. Even what their house looks like. So what would be just trashy romance novel stuff becomes much more vivid. The effect is...well, it's powerful, my friends. It's powerful. And I Cannot. Get. Enough. *blush*

Also, in my quest to remove myself even further from reality (a-la Dwight's Second Second Life), I'm also searching You Tube for fan-created JAM videos. Most are rather yawn-inducing, but there have been a few that stand out to me. This one is my absolute favorite:

12/19/2008

Ok, so I lied. Thought I'd use this - well, let's face it - abismal excuse for a Christmas episode as a guinnea pig for my possible new blog format. Let's see how this works:

My thoughts, in no particular order:

One of the funniest but possibly overlooked lines was Angela's "It's Christmas, and you're singing about naked ladies. And France."

This episode was terrible. Two years we waited for a Christmas episode and this is what we get - 20 minutes on Meredith's alcoholism, 20 seconds of JAM, and a really anti-climatic reveal of Dwangela's secret office romance. And very little Christmas. I was not left satisfied and smiling.

The scene with Meredith and Michael running around the rehab center parking lot looked straight out of Reno 9-1-1. Put Michael in a police uniform and blur out Meredith's face and I'm tellin' ya...Reno Sherrif's Department. Wonder if Oscar had a hand in setting up that scene?? Or Concierge Marie?

I can't believe we have to wait a month for another new Office. This sucks.

Yeah, that's all I can come up with right now. Tired. Brain not functioning. Let's hope my brain finds itself by the end of this Christmas break. *sigh*

12/13/2008

I'm a bad, baaaaaad blogger. I haven't done episode reviews in a while because...well, I don't know why. They got to be a pain the ass, if I'm being honest. I felt pressured to finish one before the next episode aired. This is supposed to be fun for me and for a while it wasn't. Plus I'm not even sure if anyone is reading this, so...

I'm going to rework my whole format I think. I'll wait until the show returns after Christmas break and start fresh from there. I don't think I'm gonna do those long-winded reviews anymore. I'll just do more general comments and favorite moments. Or something. I don't know. I'm still formulating a plan. If Santa brings me a laptop, maybe I'll blog as the show is happening :O

We'll see.

In the meantime, a quick recommendation for anyone reading this. I just discovered Office fanfiction last week. Yeah...last week!! I know, where have I been, right? Clearly in a black hole or on a bender with Creed. Anyway, I frickin' love it. LOOOOOOOOOVE it!!!! Especially the Jim & Pam stuff. If you're a true die hard fan like me, I highly suggest you find some. My favorite writer so far is named "neotantrika". Google her (him?).

11/14/2008

This was...how you say?...a great episode. It was...how you say?...endearing, heartbreaking and hilarious all at once. I...how you say?...loved it. And now here are my thoughts, feelings, opinions - you know, the whole nine nards!

Jim and Pam - Oh JAM. *sigh* You are wonderful in every way and my heart just flutters at the mere sight of the two of you together. You gave me a scare there, you two! With that whole "3 more months of this" thing. I really thought the writers were going to be a-holes and drag this art school thing out for another 12 episodes (which I think would have put is almost at the end of the season). Thank GOD you were just teasing us, you big teasy teasersons!!

It was so sweet how Jim - despite being desperate for her to come home and devastated at the thought of her staying - set his feelings aside and did what good partners do...supported the one he loves. He was willing to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of Pam's. He is definitely one of the good ones.

Jim really does love Pam. I know I am stating the obvious here, but it bears mentioning nonetheless. He really loves and adores that woman like nothing I've ever seen. The way he feels about her is pure. It's real. It's untainted. It's beautiful. The way he looked at her when she was standing in the parking lot. The amount of love on his face (I know they are actors. I know it's a TV show. Shut up!!!). I never get tired of it. I've watched that parking lot scene 6 or 7 times already. I could watch it a dozen more. It was perfect.

My only complaint regarding Jim in this episode comes from the scene where Dwight is making fun of Pam's painting on the wall. I would have REALLY liked to see (and was almost expecting) Jim get fucking furious with Dwight for saying those things about his beloved Pam. Considering how upset he was - how much he loved and missed Pam - to hear someone talking about what a shitty artist she is and how horrible her painting is...I don't know...most men would have blown a gasket. I kinda feel like somebody needs to knock Dwight down a peg or two, and that was the perfect moment - and the perfect person - to do it. Oh well.

Andy and Angela - When the Nard Dog is away, the Monkey will play I guess, right? Andy jets off to Ca-NA-da for his business trip and lo & behold Ms. Martin ends up in the arms of Dwight. But not before telling him to...oh I love this..."Be good". Cheaters are always the first ones to point the finger of blame.

So Andy goes away on his trip and, as is requested (demanded) of him by Angela, he behaves himself. Instead he channels his energies into "trying to get other dudes laid". But after a few bad decisions in a glass, he's drunk dialing Angela and telling her how he really feels; that there's something wrong with her and she needs sex school. Well, the first thing is true at least.

Poor Andy is going to have his heart not just broken, but shattered into a million little Nard Dog pieces. Whenever it happens (and I have to believe it will be soon) it is going to be explosive and unbelievable.

Michael - Heartbreaking. Absolutely, completely heartbreaking. He is so lost right now...maybe more than he's ever been. He's in his 40's and that window of opportunity for his happily-ever-after is quickly closing. He was sooooo close with Holly and then *BAM*. She's gone. David Wallace is a DICK for sending Holly away. There, I said it.

Michael's tryst with Concierge Marie happened because a) he was drunk, b) he is painfully lonely and c) he is desperate for someone to just make him feel loved. Clearly he didn't get that with her (as evidence by her almost instantaneously shoving him out the door). I think we are going to see the beginning of Angry Michael. I think we're going to see him be very short-tempered, snappy, irritable, and quick to punish. I think he's sick and tired of just trying to get everybody to like/love him because it's getting him nowhere. I think he's reached his breaking point and 40+ years of pent-up aggression are going to come out in a big way.

11/11/2008

Sorry I'm a little late getting to this post. I guess I'm just so much more important than all you people, and I have a million more pressing things going on in my life right now. Does that make me smudge?

LOL!! Just kidding, kids.

So...Customer Survey. What can we say about this episode? It had laughter, it had yelling, it had sweet moments, it had coffee mugs, it had the world's tiniest Bluetooth, and it had JAM's first "I love you"!!

Jim and Pam - What a cute idea - tiny, nearly undetectable Bluetooths (Blueteeth?) in your ears all day, so you can be a part of each other's entire day and feel like you're not missing anything. Let's hope Jimbo and Paaaaamooolaaaaaa have unlimited daytime minutes ;). But seriously, a cute idea that John & Jenna played very well.

But what's that old saying...Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. If you're able to hear everything that goes on, you're able to hear everything that goes on, including some pudgy-faced art student trying to convince the future mother of your children to ditch you for the cornucopia of artistic opportunities New York has to offer. Because apparently there's a ban on water colors and easels in Scranton???? C'mon, Pam! Don't fall for it! Are there more opportunities in New York? Yes. Is it the end-all, be-all, centralized mecca of the artistic world and you're screwed if you go anywhere else? No! And don't tell me Pam hasn't thought about this herself already. Seriously! Pam's not a dumbass - she knows New York has more opportunities, yet she accepted Jim's proposal and they have begun planning their future together. I have a hard time believing Alex (Boooo, Alex!!) has suddenly opened Pam's eyes to new information. At least that's what I'm hoping.

My thought? This is angst created by the writers for angst's sake. Eventually Pam will come home to her beloved lanky assistant regional manager and they will live happily ever after...in Jim's parents' house (which damn well better have a terrace upstairs), watching "28 Days", eating mixed berry yogurt, and making thirsty Halpert babies.

Andy/Angela/Dwight - Apparently Angela's "office mattress-ness" hasn't been limited to the office nor to mattresses. Clearly she and Bobblehead Joe got it on in the barn a time or two...or twenty. And clearly she misses it...and misses him. So instead of - oh, I don't know - calling off her wedding to Andy and confessing her obvious love of Dwight, she decides to hold the wedding at Schrute Farms. Cuz that's whatcha do!

There is some question among the fandom what exactly that little "exchange" between Dwight & Angela meant - the long gazes, the look on Angela's face, Dwight's sexy little voice. Most people think it means Dwight and Angela have already rekindled the romance and now they'll just have free access to one another during the wedding planning process. I disagree. I think Angela cut Dwight off after the "6:14" discussion, but now realizes the error of her ways and wants to start things up again. I also think she often dreamed of her wedding being at Schrute Farms, in the hand-plowed field, with the barn full of antique tools, while she was dating Dwight. So now she's excited that her dream will be coming true...with a different groom, of course. Details, details.

Michael - The fake engagement thing was stupid. I'm sorry. I mean, don't get me wrong, I can totally see Michael doing this. I'm not saying the concept was stupid...just the execution. Having it be a cold open was a mistake. I think it could have been a funny, interesting, and poignant sub plot throughout an episode. Not this one, though.

Favorite moments/quotes* "Our dusky, exotic customer service rep"* "Pam's a gold digger" "Hey, New York ain't free. Get back to work!"* "Alrighty, Dwighty"* The first JAM "I love you"!!* "Jim, they are a-poopy"* Smudge and arrogant / "And there's your smudgeness"* "Maybe that's because you spent the entire year flirting with the receptionist" "Little bit. Worth it".* The entire Bill Buttlicker scene* "...a bridal suite for my bridal sweet" (Oh Andy, you are SO screwed my friend)* Dwight & Jim in the car, especially "Is there some evidence?"* "Right Dwight is loud"* "You juked the stats, cupcake!"And my favorite: "Dwight, get out of my nook!" "That's what she said! That's what she said! That's what she said!"

11/04/2008

Life's like a road that you travel onWhen there's one day here and the next day gone.Aww, Holly. We hardly knew ya!

So...some funny moments, some weird moments, some unnecessarily drawn out moments, and two rather shiteous actors playing the Brothers Halpert. Overall an "interesting" episode. Not one of my favorites, but still ok.

Michael and Holly - *sigh* So David Wallace saw them kissing and now Holly has been banished from Scranton. Can someone explain this to me please? Jim & Pam are engaged. Andy & Angela are engaged. Kelly dated Ryan and now Darryl. Michael dated Jan. All these office romances and not one person has been told to transfer to another branch. But one kiss and Holly is sent back to Nashua?? Why...because she's H/R? If Michael dating Jan, his boss, was ok, why wouldn't Michael dating Holly be ok? The logical answer is that the writers needed an explanation for Holly's absence, since Amy Ryan was only signed on for a handful of episodes. And I guess if they're leaving the door open for a possible reunion between these two, this story line is better than her dying, marrying an ex-boyfriend, or some other irreversible avenue. But still I'm bothered by the whole thing.

They are just so gosh darn adorable together. It breaks my heart to think Michael was that close to happiness and it's been ripped away from him. Again. It also breaks my heart that this dynamic duo of acting - Steve Carell and Amy Ryan - will be separated. They have such amazing chemistry and feed off each other so well.

Dwight vs. Andy - Yikes, guys. This little scenario dragged on for waaaaaay longer than it should have. It had some funny moments, sure, but overall it was too much. And why wasn't Anglea more involved in all this? I would have loved to have seen an Angela/Dwight "I know what you're trying to do. Knock it off!" fight by the elevators. Aside from a horrified or angry glance here or there, we saw NOTHING from Ang...ela...ela...ela.

Jim & Pam and the Brothers Halpert - Ok, so, cool concept - let's get the brothers together for a celebratory lunch. Yay! Cool! Oh and I know, let's find two of the worst actors available in the greater Hollywood area to play Jim's brothers. Let's choose one because he kinda looks like John Krasinski and let's choose the other because...well let's just throw a tall guy into a suit and call him "Tom Halpert". Yeah, that'll work!

That whole scene was painful. From Pam's weird "The absolute best!" talking head thing, to the Jim & Pam kiss on the cheek (???), to the clearly pre-arranged prank about Pam's art career being nothing more than a hobby. All around blech! The only good part was the Brothers Halpert making goofy faces at the camera. Other than that? Total trainwreck.

Favorite Moments/Quotes* All the costumes in the cold open, especially Andy the kitten, Pam as Charlie Chaplain, and of course "Dave". Although I think "John" would have been funnier.* Dwight asking "How are you, Phyllis?". It's so sweet seeing him be nice to her.* When Dwight "clinks" glasses with Andy in the kitchen and Andy dumps his coffee in the sink* "Did Darryl touch you?"* "I've dated almost 4 women"* "It's pronounced colonel and it's the highest rank in the military". Oh, Creed.* "Dane Cook, Jack Bauer and Eli Whitney"* Michael & Holly's goodbye hugAnd my favorite: That single tear rolling down Michael's cheek when he said "We didn't break up". Oh my God.

10/25/2008

Another great episode! Lots of laughs, a few tears, and some good ol' fashioned kissing in the stairwell.

Michael and Holly - My God those two are adorable. They are more like peas and carrots than Forrest and Jenny. It's wonderful to see Michael so happy...FINALLY! Is he inappropriate and creepy most of the time? Sure. Of course. But deep down he's still a decent, warm guy and he deserves to have happiness too. Normally I would be bothered by the speed with which their relationship is progressing, but somehow it doesn't seem weird to me. Maybe because Holly wants it as much as Michael does...maybe more?? I'm very happy they are together, but very worried about their future :(

Jim, Pam and...ROY??!! - Well there's a blast from the past, eh? Roy returns for the obligatory let's-fuck-with-Jim's-mind cameo appearance. And guess what? It worked...for juuuuuust a little while, it worked. Jim actually worried about what Pam was doing with her new "friends"; enough to get in the car and start driving toward New York to check up on her. THANK GOD he turned around. I don't think Ms. Beesly would have taken too kindly to Jim showing up unannounced, because I don't think he would have been able to pass it off as some romantic surprise visit. But in the end, like Jim said, he is not that guy. "That guy" is Roy.

As a sidenote...um, when is this friggin' summer semester at art school going to end??!! Did she sign up for more time? Is it not October in Office time? It should be because next week is the Halloween episode. So what the hell? A little explanation would be great.

Dwight / Angela / Andy - Oh boy. They set a date, complete with a glitter filled save-the-date card. It's a major reality slap for Dwight. The little trysts in the warehouse were just that...little trysts. Not the rekindling of their lost romance. She's going ahead with the wedding because, as Phyllis (who rocked in this episode!!) said "Angela's not really a risk taker and Andy's not really a risk". He's safe, respectable, stable, and most importantly controllable (Angela wants to wear the pants, the skirt and the leather whip in her relationships). I understand why Phyllis told Dwight to issue the ultimatum, but honestly let's consider who it was being issued to. Angela. The Ice Queen. As if she would ever actually respond to an ultimatum.

But then again, if Dwight goes through with his end of the ultimatum, i.e. saying goodbye "to this" (*shudder*), maybe that will be the push Angela needs to finally dump Andy - like we all know she should - and get back together with her beloved "D".

Favorite moments/quotes:* Michael's "Miss ya kiddo" to Pam* Jim's little smirk when Michael & Holly were planning their next date* Holly's "Hell yeah"* "Angela's not really a risk taker and Andy's not really a risk"* "The future mother of my children"* "Instead of farms fighting against AIDS..."* "He knows how to get things. He got me" "Twice"* Michael as the auctioneer: "Hey battabatta..."* "500 dollars and one penny"* "I am not that guy and we are not that couple"* Holly "shushing" Michael with her hands and the way he looked at her when she did itAnd my favorite: "It squeaks when you bang it. That's what she said" Best TWSS EVER!!!!!

10/17/2008

Aaaaaaand there's the Office I know and love! Extra awesome episode! I mean, anytime you have a cold open that involves Dwight birthing a butter-covered watermelon onto Michael's floor, you know genius is upon you. I laughed, I cried, I threw up a little in my mouth (I can't believe he ate the watermelon!!!).

Michael/Holly/EvilFuckingC*ntJan - Oh my. So much going on here. The tension between Michael and Holly. The tension between Michael and Jan. The fact that Michael felt nothing when holding Ass-Turd (lol!). The fact that Jan fucking had Ass-Turd without Michael being there (I cannot believe the nerve of that bitch!!!!), yet she still wants to rely on him for help ("Remind me to talk to you about Astrid's 529"). I could write a novel, but I'll keep it short.

Michael matured in this episode. You could see it. Michael just wants someone to love, who will love him back. He didn't get it with Jan. He didn't feel it with Ass-Turd. But then there's Holly. Wonderful, sensitive, perfect-for-him Holly. When Michael hugged her and asked her out, I think at that moment all of Jim's advice about taking it slow, getting to know her, blah blah blah went right out the window because Michael didn't care anymore. He likes Holly and wants to be with her. Period. He's no longer content with waiting to be happy. Also, I think he is sick and f-ing tired of Jan telling him what to do all the time. "Don't date Holly". Really? Well fuck you, bitch. Fuck you.

When he held Ass-Turd and said he felt "short-changed", I don't think he just meant short-changed for missing the birth. I think he meant short-changed by life; for never being able to achieve his dream of being married and having babies. He wants the ketchup fights, dammit! He thought being involved in Jan's baby's life would finally be his ticket to happiness. But since it's not his baby and Jan gave birth without him there, clearly someone ripped up that ticket. Jan is a thief of joy.

By the way, can I just say this? Amy Ryan is a treasure. She is an amazing actress and the best thing to happen to The Office since the arrival of The Nard Puppy (lol!). Producers, I hope you are listening. I am one of thousands of voices who feels Amy/Holly needs to stick around permanently. Make. It. Happen.

Jim and Pam - *sigh* Long-distances romances. They are not easy. When I first dated my husband, we were apart for the first couple of years and only saw one another on weekends. It was hard (TWSS) and there were many days like the one Jim and Pam had. Missed phone calls, one too busy to talk to the other, a feeling of disconnect between us. You're each living these alternative lives that have nothing to do with one another, yet you are each the single most important person in each other's lives. Those two concepts don't work together.

So, where is this going? Are we headed for JAM Tensionville? Is one of them going to make some grand gesture of dropping everything and running to be with the other person (like Pam dropping out of school, or Jim asking for a transfer to NY?). This whole 3 months in NY thing has to be ending soon, right? Why can't Pam just come back to Scranton and sit behind her reception desk, so all can be right with the world? Is that too much to ask? I just want to see Pam and Jim in the conference room, watching videotapes of bands for their wedding, ya know? Enough with the angst already. I'm all for character development, but not at the expense of fucking with one of the best relationships in the history of television.

Oh and PS - Fancy New Beesly is wearing lipstick!!

Favorite moments/quotes* "We gave you a golden shower".* Ass-turd...oh and Chevy!* "...and her little grape head is under mine"* The Nard Puppy (I really hope they put that collage of baby pics online)* "She is in the terminal stages of her pregnancy" and "...to pay respect to her bloated feelings"* Michael holding the various babies...awww!* Dwight with the stroller* "It must be like the tide at Omaha Beach."* The fact that Meredith drank from a baby bottle the entire shower* The babydaddy conversation* "She smells like old tomatoes and dirt"* The Michael/Holly hug* The Jim/Pam message montage (very well edited, I might add)* And my favorite: The entire cold open. I still can't believe he ate the watermelon. I can't believe Dwight drank the water. I can't believe I got to hear Dwight Schrute say "My cervix is ripening".

10/14/2008

It's taken me a while to write this entry because...well...I didn't have much to say. With a few exceptions, that sure was one yawner of an episode. Very little plot development (maybe none?) and just kinda "bleh" as Michael would say. I know the Office purists will say "That's what The Office was originally supposed to be. A mocumentary about daily life in an office. No drama. No plot development. Just people being people." Yeah, well, phooey! It hasn't been like that since Season 1. I'm not asking for a rest stop engagement or a surprise sperm donor pregnancy in every episode...that would be stupid. That would be a soap opera. But just a little more oomph from this episode would have been nice.

I can only do one real "category" this week:

Michael/Holly - So, they've progressed a bit. Okay, there's your plot development this week. They've taken the next baby step in their non-relationship relationship and shared a meal together at the "business romantic" seafood restaurant. And they had their first fight. And their first make up. But no make up sex because Michael is taking things slow. *yawn*

But I will say this: I still LOVE Holly and hope things between her and Michael work out somehow.

By the way, how funny was this? Let's begin our business ethicsmeeting by dancing to "Let's Get Physical".There's nothing left to talk aboutUnless it's horizontallyWOW!

Meredith - Special shout out to my character namesake this week, for FINALLY having a front-and-center storyline. And giving me what will now be my nickname for all of eternity: The Meranator!!!!

Favorite moments/quotes:Jim's engagement announcement, the reactions, and Pam's "Sorry!" after Michael tackles JimJim and the stop watch - classic!!Jim's Battlestar Galactica recap"It's a trick question. The bread is poisoned. Also, it's not your real family. You've been cuckolded by a stronger, smarter male.""Would you like to bang it out over lunch?"And my favorite: "The Meranator!! Sleepin' with suppliers!"